# invoke

Pronunciation: say "in-VOHK" US /ɪnˈvoʊk/, UK /ɪnˈvəʊk/

## Verb

1. To appeal to a named authority or source in order to validate a claim or position.
   - Simple: To name an expert, rule, or source to back up what you are saying.
   - _Critics invoke the constitution whenever a new law seems to overreach._
   - _He invoked Aristotle to lend weight to his argument about ethics._
2. To appeal to a god or a person for help, support, or guidance.
   - Simple: To call on a god or powerful person for help or guidance.
   - _The priest invoked the saint's protection over the village._
   - _Desperate farmers still invoke the rain gods during a drought._
3. To bring something to mind deliberately, for a particular purpose.
   - Simple: To bring an idea, feeling, or memory into your mind for a reason.
   - _Her speech invoked the memory of the founders to rally the crowd._
   - _Filmmakers invoke familiar landscapes to set the emotional tone._
4. To solicit or petition for a favorable attitude or response.
   - Simple: To ask for kindness, support, or a fair response from someone.
   - _The campaign invoked the goodwill of longtime supporters._
   - _Petitioners invoke the governor's compassion in their appeals._
5. To summon a spirit or supernatural being by means of incantations.
   - Simple: To call up a spirit or magical being using special words.
   - _Robed figures chanted in a circle to invoke the goddess of the harvest._
   - _The witch invoked a guardian spirit to protect the threshold._
6. To bring something about as an unavoidable consequence.
   - Simple: To cause something to happen as a sure result.
   - _Missing the deadline invokes an automatic late fee on the account._
   - _Such reckless cuts can invoke lasting damage to public trust._
7. In computing, to make a program or subroutine start running.
   - Simple: To start a computer program or part of one running.
   - _Developers invoke the API directly through HTTP requests._
   - _The scheduler invokes the cleanup routine once every hour._
8. To call out to or signal another ship, especially to make contact at sea.
   - Simple: To signal or call out to another ship at sea.
   - _The damaged tanker invoked a nearby cutter for an escort into the harbor._
   - _Vessels lost in fog will invoke each other with horns and signal lamps._

## Origin

From Middle English invoken, borrowed via Old French envoquer from Latin invocāre ('to call upon'), which combines in- with vocare ('to call'). It is a doublet of invocate.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/invoke (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).